The family of an engineer, Chukwunweike Okammelu, whose corpse allegedly disappeared from the mortuary of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, demanding a fresh investigation into the controversial incident.
The family, through its lawyer, Joseph Offor, is seeking a supplementary probe, alleging that the police investigation left critical questions unanswered despite identifying possible criminal conspiracy and administrative failures.
In a petition addressed to the IGP, with a copy forwarded to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, Offor argued that the findings of the earlier investigation were incomplete and required further scrutiny.
The lawyer said the family had initially reported the disappearance to the police but became dissatisfied with the handling of the matter by the hospital authorities and the outcome of the investigation.
According to him, the complaint was referred to the IGP, who assigned the Intelligence Response Team to investigate the mysterious disappearance.
However, although the investigation was concluded and a report produced, Offor said his client identified material omissions, inconsistencies and gaps that raised questions about the completeness of the findings.
He alleged that the report acknowledged possible criminal conspiracy and systemic failures but recommended the prosecution of only the mortician, identified as Clement Ogbonna.
The lawyer argued that the recommendation failed to adequately address the possible criminal liability of other individuals who might have been involved in the incident.
He said several crucial issues remained unresolved, including the chain of custody of the corpse, the roles of other suspects, the hospital’s institutional responsibility and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
The family has therefore prepared a detailed memorandum outlining the alleged shortcomings in the investigation and submitted it alongside its request for further action.
Offor urged the IGP to order a supplementary investigation to examine the outstanding issues and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.
The family, he said, believes that a comprehensive review would help establish what happened to the engineer’s body and ensure that justice is served without favour.
POLICE, HOSPITAL SPEAK
The Anambra State Police Command, however, distanced itself from the investigation, saying the matter was being handled by the police team in Abuja.
The command’s spokesman, Ikenganyia Anthony, said the state police were not investigating a case of that nature, adding that all relevant matters were before the investigating team in the Federal Capital Territory.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Maureen Umeakuewulu, also said the incident occurred before she assumed office on March 13.
She explained that the disappearance reportedly occurred in January and that the case had been investigated by the police before being moved between different investigation units.
According to her, the matter remained with the police, although she could not confirm whether the case had been formally charged to court.
Umeakuewulu said she was unable to provide further details because the incident predated her tenure as the hospital’s chief executive.
The family’s latest petition now seeks to reopen critical aspects of the investigation, with particular emphasis on establishing how the corpse disappeared from the mortuary and whether other individuals or institutional failures contributed to the incident.
